worldtraveler26

Hello,
My husband and I plan on spending a few hours in Bath on our way to London. We will have a rental car and wondered what are the main highlights we should see? I'm a big Jane Austen fan so the Roman Baths are definitely on our list. We don't have a lot of time but would like to see a few things. Thanks!

kelsey22

You will love Bath. We went to the Roman Baths at nightfall. It was so beautiful. We also took a tour of Jane Austen museum (I believe it is called). Then walk around. Lovely!

Janeyre

Yes, the Roman Baths at night are magical although it sounds like you will be there in the daytime so do it then. Pop in to the cathedral, walk the streets to the Royal Crescent/The Circus. We missed out on the Fashion Museum but if that is your cup of tea, you may want to check that out.

Southam

A considerable amount of central Bath is restricted to pedestrians in tourist season. Since you are driving a car, it will help if you do some research on where you can and cannot go. One solution is to park on the outskirts with a bus shuttle to the centre.

Nonconformist

The Roman baths are wonderful, but they take a fair time to see.

You'll probably want to drop into the Assembly Rooms, as they appear in Northanger Abbey.

janisj

How 'few' hours?

As Southam mentions, driving in Bath is difficult and quite time consuming. If you park in one of the park N ride lots and bus into the centre -- that will eat up the best part of an hour round trip.

Then the Baths is generally a 2 hour commitment (there is often quite a queue) - you could dash through in about 90 minutes and then just a brief look-see in the Pump Room as you exit. The Abbey is right next door so easy to pop in. But whether you have time to walk to the Circus, the Royal Crescent, see Pulteney Bridge, etc entirely depends on what you mean by a 'few hours'

(>> Pop in to the cathedral,<<

Side note: Not a cathedral -- it is an Abbey)

kelsey22

I agree the line ups were long. I suggested the evening as the line up was not bad. Regardless what you do, it is beautiful and not to be missed.

janisj

>>I suggested the evening as the line up was not bad. <<

That's true -- but since the OP says they only have a few hours For Bath, I assumed it is in the middle of the day.

TDudette

The Baths and the Royal Crescent were "the" sites on a guided tour we took in 1996!

We had free time for lunch and DH had a wonderful Ploughman's platter at one of the pubs we passed.

Good luck and sorry for dated info.

kelsey22

This is the link to the Jane Austen Museum.

http://visitbath.co.uk/things-to-do/...-centre-p26121

lovs2travel

Bath is beautiful! Park in the Manvers Street Car Park. It is a five minute walk to Terrace Park where there is a bus stop for the Hop on Hop Off bus. It is across the street from the Parade Gardens. It is also only 5 minutes to Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. Take the Hop on Hop Off bus to get an overview of the city.

Be sure to stop at the Assembly Rooms, which is mentioned in Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. If I remember correctly from what one of the staff said, the Assembly Rooms were destroyed from bombing in World War II. The gorgeous crystal chandeliers were removed to safety prior to the bombing so the ones hanging in the upper rooms are the originals.

worldtraveler26

Thanks for all of the tips! We are driving from Cardoff and we will probably get to bath around 3pm and we have to drop off the rental at Heathrow around 7pm. @janisj

janisj

Then I wouldn't even bother. Sorry. There are other places you might be able to stop (Avebury, Lacock, Castle Combe, etc.)

Bath to the Heathrow rental agencies takes a full two hours (and can take longer) so you would only have 2 free hours to either wind your way into Bath city centre (often VERY congested traffic) find parking, walk around a bit, then back to the car park and wind your way back through very heavy afternoon traffic . . . OR . . . park in a park & Ride take a bus into the city and back out.

You need a day for Bath (or at least 5 or 6 hours) - not a couple of hours in a including dealing w/ the car traffic.

Scootoir

Can you arrange to return your rental car in Cardiff? If so turn it in your last day there and take an evening train to Bath. There appears to be a 7:30pm train that gets you to Bath about 8:30. The next morning leave your bags with your hotel and get up early to enjoy Bath. The National Express has a bus that travels from Bath to Heathrow, do a search for times that will correspond with your flight. Or hire a car service like Just Airports or Taxi2Flight. This will allow you to sample a little of Bath but you really need a couple of days to enjoy it.

janisj

I'm pretty sure justairports doesn't serve Bath

But Scootoir is right -- If you give up your last night in Cardiff and sleep in Bath then you could manage Bath.

Your other thread mentions also squeezing in Stonehenge -- is that off the table? Is Cardiff a must? You could drive down from Manchester to Bath and stay there instead.

worldtraveler26

Yeah I know we are squeezing in a lot. Cardiff is a must because we are going to the Dr. Who Experience Museum probably leaving there and seeing Stonehenge on the way to Bath. We aren't actually spending the night in Cardiff at all we are driving there from near Lyme Park. @janisj @scootoir

tuscanlifeedit

Do I misunderstand?

Are you, in one day, driving from Lyme Park to Cardiff, seeing Dr Who, Stonehenge, Bath and then getting to Heathrow?

janisj

>>probably leaving there and seeing Stonehenge on the way to Bath.<<

First you need a map -- Bath is not on the way from Cardiff to Bath.

I'm w/ tuscanlifeedit -- your plan is confusing. It does seem you are trying to fit in Cardiff, Stonehenge, Bath and on to LHR in ONE day starting from Lyme Park?

Sorry - but that is beyond nuts.

Lyme Park > Cardiff > Stonehenge > Bath > LHR is about a 9 hours drive <u>without a single stop</u>. That would be a <B>3 day</B> trip w/ stops for Dr Who, Stonehenge, and Bath.

If you are in fact staying near Lyme Park the night before needing to be at LHR -- you do not have time for even Cardiff. LP > Cardiff/Dr Who > LHR would take a FULL 7 hours plus your time at the DR Who Experience.

Something (several things actually) must give.

worldtraveler26

I used google maps and it gives the following driving times:
Manchester to Lyme Park Cheshire is 30 minutes
Our hotel is 1 hr from Lyme Park in Chesterfield North
The next morning we drive from Chesterfield North to Cardiff which is 3 1/2 hours (we are leaving at 7 am to arrive at Dr. Who Museum between 10:30-11)
Dr. Who Museum website says it takes about 2 hours to tour
At this point we may not have time for both Bath and Stonehenge but we will see how things go. Bath is under an hour from the museum. We are also traveling on a weekend so we shouldn't hit rush hour traffic like we would during the week. The end of September is not exactly peak travel time for tourists. Who knows when we'll make it back to England so while the itinerary may be crazy we'll see how much we can do Thanks for the insights everyone

janisj

>>I used google maps and it gives the following driving times:<<

Big (<B>HUGE</B mistake - google maps is insanely optimistic w/ drive times. You generally have to add 25% to nearly 100% to every calculation.

>>we are leaving at 7 am to arrive at Dr. Who Museum between 10:30-11<<

You had better leave earlier than that. You will be driving to the Cardiff Docks and I would plan on about 4 hours if there is no traffic. W/ morning commutes on the Motorway you could take an hour longer

>>Bath is under an hour from the museum<<

Nope -- not a chance. Closer to 90 minutes and 2 hours wouldn't be unusual. Then there is the mess of driving IN Bath.

>>The end of September is not exactly peak travel time for tourists. <<

BUT -- all the locals are back from their holidays so every day traffic will actually be heavier.

You really REALLY need to cut something.

Those of us who have tried to help you either live in the UK, have lived there, or visit frequently.